Description
Political Islam in Tunisia uncovers the secret history of Tunisia's main Islamist movement, Ennahda, from its origins in the 1960s to the present. Banned until the popular uprisings of 2010-11 and the overthrow of Ben Ali's dictatorship, Ennahda has until now been impossible to investigate. This is the first in-depth account of the movement, one of Tunisia's most influential political actors. Drawing on more than four years of field research, over 400 interviews, and access to private archives, Anne Wolf masterfully unveils the evolution of Ennahda's ideological and strategic orientations within changing political contexts and, at times, conflicting ambitions amongst its leading cadres. She also explores the challenges to Ennahda's quest for power from both secularists and Salafis. As the first full history of Ennahda, this book is a major contribution to the literature on Tunisia, Islamist movements, and political Islam in the Arab world. It will be indispensable reading for anyone seeking to understand the forces driving a key player in the country most hopeful of pursuing a democratic trajectory in the wake of the Arab Spring.
About the Author
Anne Wolf is an Associate at the University of Cambridge's Centre for the Study of the International Relations of the Middle East and North Africa and a PhD Candidate at the University of Oxford, St. Antony's College. She has published widely on Tunisia, including with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. She is an Associate Editor of the Journal of North African Studies.
Reviews
'Illuminating... comprehensive ... gives the most nuanced understanding of this fractured society'.
'An exceptionally well-crafted and objective history of Tunisia's principal Islamist movement and party, Ennahda . . . This study, so well grounded in recent history, is essential reading for anyone interested in political Islam or the evolution of regimes in the Middle East and North Africa.'
'A largely historical work that is rich in empirical detail. . . . an insightful revision and hind-sight analysis of the development and evolution of Ennahda and its precursor.'
'Anne Wolf provides a comprehensive account of the evolution of the political party in both its activities and ideology, which is essential to understanding the role of political Islam in Tunisia and comprehending its enduring role elsewhere in the Middle East . . . an important and detailed history.'
'Are Rached Ghannouchi and his Ennahda Party in Tunisia true democrats or merely tactical ones? Wolf spent four years and conducted 400 interviews trying to answer that question.'
'One of the most interesting books this summer ... As the first full history of Ennahda, the book ought to be rightfully lauded as a major contribution to literature on Tunisia, Islamist movements in general, and more broadly political Islam in the Arab world.' -- openDemocracy
'Political Islam in Tunisia: The History of Ennahda emerges at a critical time. [...] Wolf has shed important light on the historical evolution of the party, its place within Tunisian history, and its approaches to governance.' -- The New Arab
'Wolf analyses effectively . . . tension between discipline and plural expression.'
'A clear, meticulously researched narrative that explains the remarkable rise, repression and survival of what is the Arab world s most genuinely successful and democratic Islamist movement. It will become the standard reference work.' -- Michael Willis, St Antony s College, University of Oxford
'This outstanding study bridges the gap between the origins of Ennahda and its evolution into a party of government in post-revolutionary Tunisia. Comprehensive and authoritative, Wolf s book is also compelling reading.' -- Eugene Rogan, Professor of Modern Middle Eastern History, University of Oxford
'Wolf adopts a critical and rigorous approach to the history of Ennahda and shows that Islamists , like any other ideological activists, are prone to change and mature. A sound, timely and objective study of a movement that is becoming a model for any peaceful transition towards democracy in the Arab world.' -- Olivier Roy, Professor, European University Institute, author of 'Jihad and Death: The Global Appeal of Islamic State'
'A thorough, pioneering, reflective history of Ennahda that contextualises the unique evolution of the group since its inception. Essential reading.' -- Lina Khatib, Head of the MENA Programme, Chatham House
'Wolf's meticulous, readable, and well-grounded analysis of Ennahda's origins succeeds in intertwining its story with that of the Tunisian state, and with the role of Islam in Tunisian society.' -- Charles Tripp, Professor of Middle East Politics, SOAS, University of London
'This masterly book fills a serious gap in the literature: a cool-headed and rigorously researched history of Ennahda.' -- Francois Burgat, Senior Research Fellow at CNRS, author of 'Islamism in the Shadow of Al-Qaeda'
'In addition to placing the movement at the heart of Tunisia's democratic transition, Anne Wolf s study of Ennahda has the singular virtue of showing how it is also a reflection of the country's Islamic and Arab identity, stretching back to pre-colonial times.' -- George Joffe, University of Cambridge
'Based on extensive field research, Wolf's book details the historical development and rise of Ennahda. Timely, thorough, and thoughtful, it brilliantly highlights the evolution of its ideological worldview, goals and strategies. It also diligently captures its dilemmas in Tunisia's post-authoritarian era. Wolf's study is an indispensable tool to all those interested in understanding the complex trajectory of the contemporary Tunisian Islamists. It is a commendable contribution to the literature on mainstream Middle eastern Islamist movements.' -- Noureddine Jebnoun, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Centre for Contemporary Arab Studies (CCAS)
'Fascinating . . . this first-rate book provides an objective study of the evolution of the Islamist movement in Tunisia and may serve as a model for approaching the study of political Islam in the Maghreb.'
'Outstanding. . . the most comprehensive and, more importantly, up to date and in-depth study on the nature of Islamic revivalism and failures in Tunisia.'
'Political Islam in Tunisia is a very readable yet informative work, and answers many of the questions . . . surrounding a fascinating and relevant political movement. It is likely to become a standard text on the subject, and properly so. Highly recommended.'
'Wolf's book provides a comprehensive account of the evolution of Ennahda, by disentangling the complex process of transformation from movement to party, that began in the 1960s as a diffuse socio-cultural trend, into one of the country's most influential political actors.' -- Libyan Studies
'[A] deep, fascinating scholarly investigation that makes a serious contribution to existing literature on the topic ... an accurate and readable scholarly investigation into one of the most compelling topics in contemporary politics in the Arab world. It is essential reading for those interested in understanding Islam in the Arab world, Islam and democracy, and Tunisia's history and politics.' -- Bustan: The Middle East Book Review
Book Information
ISBN 9781787380332
Author Anne Wolf
Format Paperback
Page Count 304
Imprint C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd
Publisher C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd
About the Author
Anne Wolf is an Associate at the University of Cambridge's Centre for the Study of the International Relations of the Middle East and North Africa and a PhD Candidate at the University of Oxford, St. Antony's College. She has published widely on Tunisia, including with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. She is an Associate Editor of the Journal of North African Studies.
Reviews
'Illuminating... comprehensive ... gives the most nuanced understanding of this fractured society'.
'An exceptionally well-crafted and objective history of Tunisia's principal Islamist movement and party, Ennahda . . . This study, so well grounded in recent history, is essential reading for anyone interested in political Islam or the evolution of regimes in the Middle East and North Africa.'
'A largely historical work that is rich in empirical detail. . . . an insightful revision and hind-sight analysis of the development and evolution of Ennahda and its precursor.'
'Anne Wolf provides a comprehensive account of the evolution of the political party in both its activities and ideology, which is essential to understanding the role of political Islam in Tunisia and comprehending its enduring role elsewhere in the Middle East . . . an important and detailed history.'
'Are Rached Ghannouchi and his Ennahda Party in Tunisia true democrats or merely tactical ones? Wolf spent four years and conducted 400 interviews trying to answer that question.'
'One of the most interesting books this summer ... As the first full history of Ennahda, the book ought to be rightfully lauded as a major contribution to literature on Tunisia, Islamist movements in general, and more broadly political Islam in the Arab world.' -- openDemocracy
'Political Islam in Tunisia: The History of Ennahda emerges at a critical time. [...] Wolf has shed important light on the historical evolution of the party, its place within Tunisian history, and its approaches to governance.' -- The New Arab
'Wolf analyses effectively . . . tension between discipline and plural expression.'
'A clear, meticulously researched narrative that explains the remarkable rise, repression and survival of what is the Arab world s most genuinely successful and democratic Islamist movement. It will become the standard reference work.' -- Michael Willis, St Antony s College, University of Oxford
'This outstanding study bridges the gap between the origins of Ennahda and its evolution into a party of government in post-revolutionary Tunisia. Comprehensive and authoritative, Wolf s book is also compelling reading.' -- Eugene Rogan, Professor of Modern Middle Eastern History, University of Oxford
'Wolf adopts a critical and rigorous approach to the history of Ennahda and shows that Islamists , like any other ideological activists, are prone to change and mature. A sound, timely and objective study of a movement that is becoming a model for any peaceful transition towards democracy in the Arab world.' -- Olivier Roy, Professor, European University Institute, author of 'Jihad and Death: The Global Appeal of Islamic State'
'A thorough, pioneering, reflective history of Ennahda that contextualises the unique evolution of the group since its inception. Essential reading.' -- Lina Khatib, Head of the MENA Programme, Chatham House
'Wolf's meticulous, readable, and well-grounded analysis of Ennahda's origins succeeds in intertwining its story with that of the Tunisian state, and with the role of Islam in Tunisian society.' -- Charles Tripp, Professor of Middle East Politics, SOAS, University of London
'This masterly book fills a serious gap in the literature: a cool-headed and rigorously researched history of Ennahda.' -- Francois Burgat, Senior Research Fellow at CNRS, author of 'Islamism in the Shadow of Al-Qaeda'
'In addition to placing the movement at the heart of Tunisia's democratic transition, Anne Wolf s study of Ennahda has the singular virtue of showing how it is also a reflection of the country's Islamic and Arab identity, stretching back to pre-colonial times.' -- George Joffe, University of Cambridge
'Based on extensive field research, Wolf's book details the historical development and rise of Ennahda. Timely, thorough, and thoughtful, it brilliantly highlights the evolution of its ideological worldview, goals and strategies. It also diligently captures its dilemmas in Tunisia's post-authoritarian era. Wolf's study is an indispensable tool to all those interested in understanding the complex trajectory of the contemporary Tunisian Islamists. It is a commendable contribution to the literature on mainstream Middle eastern Islamist movements.' -- Noureddine Jebnoun, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Centre for Contemporary Arab Studies (CCAS)
'Fascinating . . . this first-rate book provides an objective study of the evolution of the Islamist movement in Tunisia and may serve as a model for approaching the study of political Islam in the Maghreb.'
'Outstanding. . . the most comprehensive and, more importantly, up to date and in-depth study on the nature of Islamic revivalism and failures in Tunisia.'
'Political Islam in Tunisia is a very readable yet informative work, and answers many of the questions . . . surrounding a fascinating and relevant political movement. It is likely to become a standard text on the subject, and properly so. Highly recommended.'
'Wolf's book provides a comprehensive account of the evolution of Ennahda, by disentangling the complex process of transformation from movement to party, that began in the 1960s as a diffuse socio-cultural trend, into one of the country's most influential political actors.' -- Libyan Studies
'[A] deep, fascinating scholarly investigation that makes a serious contribution to existing literature on the topic ... an accurate and readable scholarly investigation into one of the most compelling topics in contemporary politics in the Arab world. It is essential reading for those interested in understanding Islam in the Arab world, Islam and democracy, and Tunisia's history and politics.' -- Bustan: The Middle East Book Review
Book Information
ISBN 9781787380332
Author Anne Wolf
Format Paperback
Page Count 304
Imprint C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd
Publisher C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd
